Apparatus for heating nitrous-oxid-administering appliances.



G. K. TETER & D. A. DAVIES. APPARATUS FOR HEATING NITROUS OXID ADMINISTERING APPLIANGES.

co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

n sransrarnn CHARLES K. TETER AND DAVID A. DAVIES, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE TETER.MA1\TUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING NITROUS-OXID-ADMINISTERING APPLIANCES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May i9, 1913.

Patented Dec. 23,1913. Serial No. 768,691.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES K. TETER and DAVID A. DAvIEs,'citizens of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Heating Nitrous-OXid-Administering Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for heating nitrous oxid administering appliances, and has for its object, the provision of means for insuring the continuing administration of this and other gaseous anesthetics at normal temperatures.

There have previously been devised and used, a number of heating appliances for warming gaseous anesthetics, immediately before their administration, but our present invention relates only incidentally to such heating action.

It is found in practice that the flow of nitrous oxid is rendered uncertain, or is temporarily checked, by reason of the expansion of the reagent from liquid to gaseous form. It will be understood that the clearances in the controlling and reducing valves, must be very small, in order properly to regulate the flow of gas, and such intense cold, thereby results that the valve parts become clogged with frost or ice. Accordingly, it has been necessary to wrap the valve structure in hot cloths, or otherwise apply external heating means, in endeavor to obtain the necessary flow of gas, during a long continued administration. Obviously, such makeshifts are undependable and unsatisfactory, especially at critical moments, and it has been our aim to provide a simple construction for heating the valve structure interiorly and closely adjacent to the vent or opening of the valve. Preferably, the vaporwarmer of the apparatus is utilized as a source of heat; being suitably modified for that purpose.

Details of our improvements will be more readily explained, by making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Figure 1, is a view in elevation upon a large scale, partially broken away, illustrating apparatus embodying our improvements. Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view thereof, on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a plan View upon a reduced scale, of administering apparatus equipped with our improvements, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, illustrating a modified type of vapor-warmer.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, we have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

Referring first to Fig. 3, typical apparatus in intended to be shown thereby, for the administration of nitrous oxid and oxygen. These gases are primarily supplied, respectively, in flasks n 0, which sustain very high internal pressures. Suitable valve mechanism therein indicated, including automatic reducing valves 1", are provided for regulating the flow, and obtaining the mixture of these gases which pass through the vaporwarmer w, and thence to the patient.

The reducing valve for the nitrous oxid, together with the vaporwarmer, are shown upon an enlarged scale in Fig. 1. Therein, the pipes 11, extend to the nitrous oxid flasks, (not shown) and communicate by a central bore 7 with a mixing chamber 0. The valve controlling the same is actuated by means of the combined indicator and handle 7". The vapor-warmer to may be of any approved type, but preferably is equipped as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. In the former, a check valve to near the bottom of the vapor-warmer, serves to prevent the return flow of water from the coil 10 positioned below the bottom of the vapor-warmer. A continuation or extension of said coil to connects with one bore 6 in the casting b forming the body of the reducing valve. Parallel bore 6 is connected by the pipe to .with the body of the vapor-warmer. At the opposite side, said casting Z) is terminally cross-bored and hermetically plugged, as shown at 5 for the purpose of connecting the passages b b.

It will be understood that vapor-warmer w normally is filled with water, and the gauze-covered section @11 supplied with an alcohol lamp w or other suitable heating means. Accordingly, the water in the coil 10 which preferably is formed of copper, will become highly heated and partially vaporized. As the check valve to prevents its immediate return to the vapor-warmer, the water and steam will be driven through the passages b b, and the pipe w which accordingly serves to maintain the casting I), in a highly heated condition. This casting provides the seat for the reducing valve, and affords the passage through which the nitrous oXid must flow. Consequently the expansion of the reagent cannot chill the metal sufliciently to permit the formation of frost or ice between the valve parts. Indeed, the nitrous oxid might be sufiiciently warmed to avoid the necessity otherwise, of using a vapor-warmer. However, we are enabled to insure a continuing and more evenly heated flow of gas, by passing the mixed anesthetizing reagents through the vapor-warmer.

Fig. t illustrates a modified type of vaporwarmer, wherein the bottom is annularly recessed to accommodate the coil la, whereby the fiame from the lamp may act directly upon the bottom '10 of the vaporwarmer, as well as upon the coil. Inasmuch as the steam and hot water is returned to the body of the vapor warmer through the pipe 10, however, a sufficiently high temperature ordina ily is insured by the construction of Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the heating medium, in the form of steam and hot water, is supplied directly to the passages and controlling parts of the valve, so that indirect heating is avoided. The use of a heating coil adjacent to the reducing valve, not only would be cumbersome and less eflicient, but the heat is more directly applied in our improved construction. It should be remembered, that the nitrous oXid is under very high pressure, and the parts must be strong enough to stand the expansive strain thereof. All of the requirements are met in the apparatus just described.

While we have shown the vapor-warmer suitably connected to heat the reducing valve, we do not desire to limit ourselves to the combined heater for the valve and gaseous reagents, since the former may be separately heated by any suitable means, if desired.

Accordingly, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a container of a reagent under high pressure, of a regulating valve therefor, a conductive body integral with the valve, provided with passages, and

means for directing the flow of heating medium through the said passages, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a container of a liquefied reagent under high pressure, of a regulating valve therefor, including a body of metal bored with passages adjacent to the valve parts, and means for directing the flow of a heating medium through said passages, substantially as set forth.

In apparatus for controlling liquefied nitrous oxid and the like, the combination with a container for the reagent, of a reducing valve for regulating the releasing pressure, a heating member conductively associated with the valve parts, and provided with closed passages, and a fluid heating device connected with said passages, and adapted to direct a heated medium therethrough, substantially as set forth.

4-. The combination with apparatus for administering nitrous oxid or other liquetied anesthetic, including a regulating valve for controlling the initial flow of gas of a vapor-warmer, a heating element associated with the valve, and pipes connecting the same with the vaporwarmer, whereby a fluid heating medium may be directed through said element, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a valve for controlling the initial flow of nitrous oXid or other liquefied reagent, of a heating element having circulatory passages and conductively associated with the valve, a vaporwarmer and a coil connected with the vaporwarmer and said passages, whereby a fluid heating medium may be circulated through said element to heat the valve, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a valve provided with a transversely bored conductive member integral with the valve seat, of an external fluid heating device, including a heating coil and check valve, and connecting pipes uniting the coil and heater with the transversely bored member, substantially as set forth.

' 7. The combination with a valve of the class described, of a fluid-heated element therefor, and a fluid-heater connected with the latter, comprising a liquid receptacle, having an annularly recessed bottom, and a coil disposed within said recess, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, we do now aflix our signatures in the presence of two. witncsses.

CHARLES K. TETER DAVID A. DAVIES. Witnesses:

HERBERT d BELL, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

